Consumer confidence ticked higher in July as Americans grew slightly more optimistic about the economy’s future, even as concerns about job availability deepened. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose two points to 97.2, marking a rebound from April’s dip and suggesting the economy’s resilience despite ongoing tariff negotiations and mixed labor signals.
A booming stock market and progress on President Donald Trump’s trade talks with the European Union likely buoyed sentiment. “Pessimism about the future receded somewhat, leading to a slight improvement in overall confidence,” said Stephanie Guichard, senior economist at the Conference Board. Consumers were notably more upbeat about future business conditions and income.
However, cracks in the labor outlook are showing. The survey found more Americans reporting difficulty finding work, with job availability dropping for the seventh straight month to its lowest point since March 2021. June job openings slipped to 7.4 million, down from 7.7 million in May, with steep losses in hospitality, health care, and finance outweighing gains in retail and government hiring.
Housing offered little relief: May home prices rose 2.3% year-over-year, the slowest pace since July 2023. Rising mortgage rates near 6.9% and cautious buyers have cooled momentum, leaving sellers and buyers in a “holding pattern,” according to Realtor.com’s Anthony Smith.
Despite mixed signals, the overall picture remains one of steady—if uneven—growth. “The U.S. economy has been notably sturdy all year,” said Carol Schleif of BMO Private Wealth, citing clarity on tax and trade policy as stabilizing forces. With inflation cooling and tariffs still playing out, analysts expect the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady, adopting a “wait-and-see” approach as the second half of the year unfolds.
